Catti-brie groaned as she opened her eyes, her senses slowly flooding back into her. The first thing she saw was the strange drow mercenary sitting across the table from her, a smug grin crossing his dark lips.
"Well met, daughter of Mithral Hall," he greeted as she shifted in her chair, noticing the rope that tied her hands behind her. She shot the mercenary a dangerous glare despite her predicament. "So beautiful and brave, to come all the way to Menzoberranzan!"
Catti-brie swallowed nervously as the mercenary looked her over, his heat seeing eyes roaming over her. But just beyond him, she saw the other being in the room. She found her tongue at recognizing this human.
"Curse you, Artemis Entreri!" she spat angrily at the assassin who sat comfortably in a chair behind the mercenary. Entreri rolled his eyes as if he couldn't be bothered by what she had to say. He just continued to gnaw on the dried piece of rothe jerky he was eating.
"Such words," the mercenary commented with a chuckle, forcing her attention back to him. He tipped his wide-brimmed hat to her. "You may call me Jarlaxle. And be glad that I have you, for you wouldn't find better treatment in this city."
Catti-brie growled and struggled pointedly in her confined. "Great treatment," she remarked sarcastically.
"Well, I had to be sure you wouldn't be foolish enough to try to escape," Jarlaxle pointed out. "Menzoberranzan is no place for a human."
Catti-brie scoffed and glanced at Entreri. "Then why do you allow that filth to roam free?" she questioned.
"He is not here of his own free will," Jarlaxle explained. "And he is not likely to go charging off to the Baenres compound after Drizzt Do'Urden. At least not without aid."
Catti-Brie let out a breath of relief. She'd seen Drizzt fall in the battle with Jarlaxle's troops and feared the worst, but confirmation that he was alive gave her hope.
"If that's where Drizzt is, then Baenres be damned," Catti-brie spat again angrily. She didn't know who Baenres was, but if that's who had taken Drizzt, then they would feel her wrath. Jarlaxle grinned widely.
"You truly aren't from Menzoberranzan or you would not speak such words," he pointed out as he leaned forward, his expression turning more serious. "Either you are very brave or very foolish."
"I say it's the latter," Entreri remarked from behind. "Drizzt is likely dead already she wastes her time."
Catti-Brie didn't miss the bitterness in the assassin's voice. She knew his only obsession was to prove he was the better fighter than Drizzt. She scoffed at him tauntingly. "Bet it hurt, don't it," she sneered. "To know in yer heart that Drizzt is yer better."
"So brave," Jarlaxle commented admirably. "So beautiful." Catti-brie watched nervously as Jarlaxle got to his feet and moved towards her. Reaching behind her, he pushed her forward, strongly yet gently as he removed the ropes from her wrists, freeing her. Then, as he moved back, he couldn't resist but brush a finger across her cheek.
Catti-brie cringed at the touch, but felt confused by him releasing her. Cautiously, she got to her feet and regarded him. "I have information for you," Jarlaxle explained. "And I have a request. You will not break into the Baenres compound without my help, so if you value Drizzt then you will hear everything I have to say."
Catti-brie sat back down in the chair. She could run, she could dart out of this small house they were in. His actions told her he wouldn't stop her, but she wisely realized she wouldn't get far.
Satisfied that he had her cooperation, Jarlaxle turned to his side and motioned towards a curtained room. The curtains moved aside and a young drow entered the room. He was a curious looking one; he was shorter and somewhat stalkier than the typical slender physique of the dark elves. His skin was a dark gray tone rather than the charcoal black tone of most drow. His eyes were a blueish amber color. But more than that, as Catti-brie met his eyes, this drow felt familiar, his facial structure, his handsome physique.
His white hair was pulled back in a long ponytail falling to his back, and he wore long purple and black wizard robes, and Catti-brie noted a row of wands strapped to his belt, along with the white ivory hilt of a dagger.
"This is Ky'lor, my son," Jarlaxle introduced and even Entreri seemed intrigued. "At least that is what I have told him all his life."
Catti-brie saw a softness in the drow's eyes. "Ye aren't full drow, are ye?" she spoke what her suspicions were telling her.
Ky'lor shook his head. "My mother was a dwarf," he replied, his melodic tone putting Catti-brie at ease about him.
"I raised the boy in this very home," Jarlaxle explained. "Secret, secure, unknown. Half drows aren't accepted very well in this society as you might imagine, and his true father, Zaknafein Do'Urden entrusted me to his care and safety."
Catti-brie's jaw fell open in surprise as Jarlaxle casually disclosed the half drow's true identity to her. "Does Drizzt know he has a brother?" she stammered as Entreri approached, regarding this young dark elf curiously. Of course, Catti-brie knew of Drizzt's other half brother, Dinin, but to think that there was another son of Zaknafein.
"He has no way of knowing," Jarlaxle replied. "Ky'lor was born while Drizzt was away at the academy, the result of Zaknafein's secret visit out of the city. He was brought to me because his father knew he wouldn't be safe in the Do'Urden compound.
"I have kept him safe as I promised, but I can no longer do so if he remains in this city," Jarlaxle explained, and Catti-brie and Ky'lor both looked at the mercenary. Catti-brie was at a loss for words. She thought maybe this strange bald drow had some sense of honor, but she had seen him fight against Drizzt many times. His motives were unclear. But to hear that he took in this young drow was encouraging.
"Ye want me to take him with me back to Mithral Hall," Catti-brie correctly surmised. Jarlaxle nodded and Ky'lor tensed, regarding the man he called father.
"What of you?" he asked. Catti-brie felt a sting of sympathy for the boy.
"My place is here," Jarlaxle explained. "But yours is not. Your identity will be found out soon enough, and then you will be in danger. Besides, like your brother, you are not meant for drow society. You will find a better life with the dwarves. After all, they are your people as well."
Catti-brie never thought she would hear such words of honor and love from a drow that was not Drizzt Do'Urden. She reached out and gripped Ky'lor on the arm. "We'll get ye out of here," she promised. She knew that the most dangerous part of her mission was still ahead and it was possible that they'd all perish in the attempt to rescue Drizzt, but she felt more determined than ever now. Drizzt must meet his brother.
"You will find Ky'lor of great value," Jarlaxle added. "He has been at the academy for the past 20 years, studying in the school of wizardry. Unfortunately, he cannot complete the final ten years of his studies, but I have taught him what I know, and there are few in Menzoberranzan with my skill."
Jarlaxle winked at that last, boastful comment. But then, his focus moved to preparation. For the rest of the day and into the next day, Jarlaxle gave them plans and layouts, everything he knew about the Baenres compound, how to break in, and what magic they would need.
By the end of this most detailed lecture, Catti-brie knew more of Menzoberranzan than she ever thought possible.
By the time Narbondel signaled the start of the next day, Catti-brie stood in front of Jarlaxle's door with Ky'lor and Entreri, fully armed and ready for the battle to come. Jarlaxle gave them some last-minute tips and as he moved to open the door for them, Catti-brie moved over and embraced him tightly.
"Thank you," she told him genuinely. The surprised drow accepted the embrace stoically, then stepped back and looked her over.
"There is one more thing," he told her. "When you get back to Mithral Hall, set your eyes south. Drizzt will want to go south towards the Forest of Mir, for someone very important is being held there and needs rescuing. If you break into Baenres's fortress and manage to rescue Drizzt, then I would imagine that nothing will be beyond your grasp."
"Who is this person?" Entreri demanded hotly as he shoved his way in front og Jarlaxle, shoving Catti-brie away.
"As if I am inclined to tell you," Jarlaxle sneered.
"You have no reason to aid this one," Catti-brie added. "Once our mission is complete and Drizzt is safe, ye will be on yer way and never hinder Drizzt again. Otherwise ye will find my dagger in yer spine!"
Entreri scoffed, not taking Catti-brie's threat too seriously. But no more was said and the three of them departed for the Baenre compound.